ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team rode an 18-0 run midway through the first half and shot a season-best 54 percent from the floor in a 60-41 victory over the Western Michigan on Saturday (Dec. 15) inside Crisler Center. Senior guard Kate Thompson(Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) recorded her first career double-double (16 points and 10 rebounds) to lead the Wolverines to their fourth straight win.

Sophomore guard Brenae Harris(Marion, Ohio/Marion Harding) helped pace the U-M offense, matching a career high with 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting. Senior guard Jenny Ryan(Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central) filled up the box score, contributing eight points, seven assists (a season high) and five rebounds. Michigan dominated down low, outrebounding the Broncos, 33-25, and outscoring them by a 28-14 margin in the paint.

Senior forward Rachel Sheffer(Watervliet, Mich./Watervliet) opened the scoring for the Wolverines by converting a contested basket deep in the paint on their first possession. After a Broncos three-point shot, Michigan responded with five straight points, including another Sheffer bucket and a Thompson three pointer -- both assisted by Ryan -- to stake U-M to an early four-point lead, 7-3.

Michigan extended its lead to 20 points midway through the first half, as the Maize and Blue went on an 18-0 run over a span of six minutes. The scoring stretch was kick started by Sheffer and Thompson, who combined to score the Wolverines' first 12 points overall. Senior forward Sam Arnold(Medinah, Ill./Lake Park) added to the run, hitting three consecutive baskets during a two-minute span.

At the 7:03 mark of the first half, freshman guard Madison Ristovski(Sterling Heights, Mich./University Liggett) capped off the run with her first points of the game to bring the score to 25-5. Michigan was equally as productive on the defensive end during the run, holding Western Michigan scoreless for a stretch lasting 8:37. The Wolverines limited the Broncos to six field goals in the first half of play and went into the locker room with a 31-15 lead.

Both teams traded baskets to start the second half and Michigan remained in the lead 35-20 entering the half's first media timeout. With 9:45 remaining on the clock, Harris nailed a three-point shot in stride, giving U-M a 47-26 lead -- the largest lead of the contest, 21 points.

Down the stretch, the closest WMU got was 14 points with four minutes left as Michigan maintained its lead as six different players scored six points or more in the game. In total, nine players saw the court and Michigan closed out the Broncos for a 19-point victory.

The Wolverines are back on the court on Thursday (Dec. 20), hosting Valparaiso as part of a doubleheader with the men's team. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m., and the game can be seen on the Big Ten Network. [ Tickets ]